Improvement in step-ladders



W. L. CLARK.

STEP-LADDER. I No.182,16 8, Patented Sept. 12, 1876.

WITNESSES INVENTOR m ATTORNI EYS N. PETERS, FHOTQ-LITHOGRAPHERWASHINGI'ONv D C.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM L. CLARK, OF wEBsTEE CITY, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEP-LADDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WM; L. CLARK, of Web ster City, in the county ofHamilton and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Combined Extension and Step Ladders; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanyin g drawings and to letters of reference marked thereon, whichform a part of this specification; and in which Figure 1 is a view of myladder with its sections extended; Fig. 2, a side view thereof,contracted in the form of a step-ladder; and Fig. 3, a detachedsectional View of the pin for holding the parts or sections in positionwhen extended or contracted.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are designated by likeletters.

This invention relates to a certain improvement in combined extensionand step ladders; and it consists of two sections-one of the commonstep-ladder form and the other with the ordinary rounds or steps, andhinged or pivoted to the former section, the hinged or pivoted sectionbeing provided with stops and engaged by a holding-pin, substantially ashereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawing, A refers to one section of my ladder, of thecommon step-ladder form, and A to the other section, with the ordinaryrounds or steps, and hinged or pivoted to section A at a, in any knownway. The up per end of the hinged or pivoted section A, which serves aslegs or supports to the section A when used as a step-ladder, isprovided with l lo. 182,168., dated September 12, 1876; applicationfiled August 3,1876.

lateral projections or stops a a, to furnish a bearing forthe said endwhen inverted, and the said section extended, as seen in Fig. 1. B is apin entering and confined in a case, I), let into the upper end of thestep-ladder section A. The pin B is provided with a thumbpiece or headfor convenience in'm anipulation, and passesthrough the case b, toengage the recess or aperturec in the hinged section A, to hold theparts properly apartwhen used in a step-ladder. When the parts areextended for use as an ordinary ladder, the pin engages a second recessor aperture, not shown, to hold the same in position or from foldingtogether while being placed in position against the structure orbuilding. A spring, d, within the i case b, and acting upon the pin B,holds the latter to its place and projects it into the coincident recessor aperture as the ladder is changed from one form into another.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

The ladder-section A, having the spring or self-acting holding-pin B d,in combination with, and to which is hinged, the section A, havingperforations, and its upper end provided with laterally-projectingpieces or stops to a, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I hereunto affix mysignature in presence .of two witnesses.

, WM. LEACH CLARK. Witnesses:

A. HAswELL, G. W. SMITH.

